4. Community building

The process of designing and going through the planning system can offer great opportunities to achieve positive social outputs increasing the scheme’s Social Value. Design and planning processes can offer a unique opportunity to bring people together, to learn about our environment and social history and to develop skills.

Job creation is an obvious one, but many other strategies can be incorporated within schemes’ programmes. Developers can create apprenticeships and training for local people, they can organise site visits for schools and local community groups, they can deliver design workshops, festivals and much more. All of these contribute to strengthening local networks and social cohesion and to increasing social mobility, and they can help local residents understanding and becoming familiar with the changes happening in their neighbourhoods. When people become part of a Place-making process, they develop a stronger sense of belonging, increasing their desire to care and look after public spaces, all of which results in higher quality environments for all.

The places in our neighbourhoods occupy a very special place in our heart, and the quality of those places can make a significant difference to people’s lives and children development. It is public places where we meet others, socialise, learn, grow and communicate with society. A simple way to understand this concept is to look at place psychology by thinking about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The design and planning process can be of significant relevance in delivering a positive place experience and social sustainability, particularly in large schemes.

Engagement Criteria

4.1 Explain how the community engagement delivered aspects of social sustainability

4.2 Explain how the community engagement delivered aspects of place psychology